[Dixielandjazz] Million dollar question

[Patrick Cooke]

Hi Gordy....
      I'm glad you brought this up.  I seems that a lot of the festivals are
taking on an air of sameness..like after the festival, everybody gets on the
same plane and goes to the next festival, playing the same tunes.
       Except they seem to leave out the acts that I most liked.  The
turkeys seem to go on forever.
        I would like to see more organized groups as opposed to groups that
are just thrown together with players that haven't seen each other since the
last festival.
          Do all of the festival managers use the same booking agent?
         A single horn player with a good rhythm section is preferable to to
bunch of guys thrown together just because they each have to play a minimum
number of sets.
          In order to play something "that everybody on the stand knows",
the more horn players on the stand, the more likely they will play the same
tired, overplayed, overworked standards.  And they will play them again on
every set they play.  They won't even stray from the original key.  A key
change is usually very effective.
         Pat Cooke
----- Original Message -----
From: <GWW174@aol.com>
To: <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 1:24 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Million dollar question


> Just returned from a great 3 day festival in Mammoth Lakes California.   A
> very good and well-run festival in a wonderful environment - and directed
by
> two really nice people, Ken and Flossy.   Now the million dollar
question...
>
> Over the years of hearing a lot of OKOM and seeing a lot of live
performances
> at festivals I have noticed that bands fall into two distinct categories.
>
> 1.  Bands who are just outright fantastic.... dynamic.... stupendous....
Some
> might use the words of "groovy or bit..in"   Use whatever superlative you
> want but they are "top drawer".   You can usually tell who they are
because
> their performances are filled to capacity and everyone is having a blast.
>
> 2.  There are other bands who are good.  They play the right notes...
great
> musicians....good improv... good rhythm, good tune selections... good
> interpretations...good arrangements... even good patter between
> tunes...everything about them is "good" BUT they still don't fall into the
> "dynimite class" of the first group.  You really can't find anything wrong
> with these bands - but some might say that they can be boring at times.
>
> So, WHY.
>
> So let's have some ideas from everyone - band directors, musicians, and
> listeners.  Am I the only one who has made this observation?  Don't think
so.
>
>
> I have a few ideas but would enjoy seeing what others may have to say on
the
> subject.
>
> Gordon
>
>
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